How to Get Your Dog to Eat Kibble Again

Use the Delinquent Waiter Routine

When a dog refuses kibble, Ian Dunbar recommends the "Delinquent Waiter Routine" to retrain their relationship with food. Start by placing just one piece of kibble in the bowl after your usual feeding routine. Ask your dog to sit, then set the bowl down. Let them react—some may nose-scan, others may turn away in disgust. But the key is to wait patiently. Once they eat the single piece, praise them and add two more pieces. Repeat until they eat immediately. Then increase to four pieces. This builds positive association and teaches them to finish meals without guarding the bowl.

Boost Kibble with Strong Smells

Make kibble more appealing by enhancing its smell. Seal a few cups of dry kibble with freeze-dried liver or bacon in a plastic bag. After an hour, the kibble will absorb the strong aroma, making it smell like a treat. This "enhanced kibble" can be used as a lure, reward, or mixed into chew toys. The powerful scent helps rekindle interest, especially in dogs that have lost enthusiasm for plain kibble.

Try the Fasting Method

If your dog still refuses kibble, consider a short fast. Ian Billinghurst advises not feeding your dog for 24 hours if they’re not eating a new or healthy diet. This builds hunger, which increases the chance they’ll eat the food when offered again. Many dogs that initially refuse food will eat enthusiastically after a fast, especially if they’re not used to being truly full. Don’t worry—this isn’t starvation. It’s a temporary pause to reset their appetite.

Avoid Reinforcing Picky Behavior

Don’t give in by offering processed foods, treats, or table scraps. Ian Billinghurst warns that these often contain salt and flavor enhancers that make dogs eat them—leading owners to wrongly believe the old food is better. This can undo progress. Instead, stick to the new diet. If your dog skips a meal, pick up the bowl after 15 minutes and don’t offer food again until the next scheduled time. This teaches them that skipping meals means missing out.

Use Positive Reinforcement and Patience

Let your dog miss a meal or two to encourage them to eat the new food. As noted in *Let Dogs Be Dogs*, dogs that are thankful for their meals are more cooperative overall. They’ll sit quickly for food, make eye contact, and eat with gusto. This builds trust and reinforces your role as the pack leader. Avoid force, poking, or pulling food away—these actions can damage the relationship.